Frequently Asked Questions

In review of various email threads between the 2014 Reporter, Phil Strout, and select Executive Team members, we know the following details: 

• December 2011 – 2014 – Reporter had ongoing communication with Phil Strout and Michael Gatlin requesting support related to ongoing conflict with Michael and Brenda Gatlin.
• February 25, 2014 (7:21 am) – Reporter submitted letter of Formal Concern to Rich Nathan, Lance Pittluck, Phil Chorlian, Phil Strout, Happy Leman, Rick Olmstead, Mark Fields, and Doug Anderson. The reporter asked that the email be forwarded to Brian Anderson, Becky Olmstead, and Diane Leman. 
• February 25, 2014 (1:18 pm) – Phil Strout responded to the reporter, copying the parties noted above, asking him to be patient and wait for an opportunity to resolve the conflict interpersonally. 
• February 25, 2014 (1:25 pm) – Lance Pittluck responded to Phil Strout inquiring who helps Phil handle these types of issues. Phil Strout responded to Lance Pittluck the same day. 
• February 25, 2014 (3:31 pm) – Reporter responds to Phil Strout and Executive Team members reiterating that he is not asking for a meeting, but bringing a concern about unethical and unscriptural behavior to their attention. Reporter notes, “I am concerned the Michael is (and has been) treating people in a similar manner – bullying people, belittling people and using his power to harm and manipulate.”
• February 26, 2014 (6:47 am) – Phil Strout forwarded the email thread to Michael Gatlin for his awareness. 
• February 26, 2014 (8:57 am) – Michael Gatlin forwarded the email to the Duluth Vineyard Senior Leadership Team email address and two other staff members of the Duluth Vineyard. 
• February 26, 2014 (1:41 pm) – Michael Gatlin forwarded the email thread to Jay Pathak and Jeff Heidkamp, who were junior board members, for their awareness. 
• February 26th – March 2014 – Duluth Vineyard engages independent Church Council members to interview the staff to determine the credibility of the allegations of abusive conduct. This investigation finds the allegations unsubstantiated. 
• Other Vineyard USA Executive Team members do not seem to engage the information directly. There is no documented formal review or follow-up plan. 
• March 5-7, 2014 – Vineyard USA Executive Team Meeting – There is no record of this issue in the formal minutes of the Executive Team meetings from 2014. There are no audio recordings of the 2014 ET meetings on file with Vineyard USA. Various Executive Team members recall the events associated with this email differently. There is no consensus on a plan to review the Complaint or follow-up with the Reporter. Based on the emails from April 1, 2014, it would appear that Jeff Heidkamp, junior board member, was assigned to engage the 2014 Reporter.
• April 1, 2014 (1:58 PM) – Jeff Heidkamp, junior board member, emails Reporter regarding the Formal Concern email and offers to speak with Reporter. Emails seem to indicate that this was a directive coming from the Executive Team meeting.
• April 1, 2014 (3:37 PM) – Reporter writes junior board member Jeff Heidkamp thanking him for the phone call and for being willing to engage the situation.

2023

• March 15, 2023 – Vineyard USA staff forwarded an email to Robb Morgan, Managing Director and acting Super Regional Leader in support of the Duluth Vineyard. 
• March 15, 2023 (2:21 pm) – Robb Morgan receives original forwarded email thread related to 2014 Formal Complaint from Jay Pathak from 2014
• March 16, 2023 (8:25 am) – Robb Morgan forwarded information to Guidepost Solutions 
• March 16, 2023 (3:29 pm) – Robb Morgan forwarded information to Duluth Vineyard Special Committee
• March 20, 2023 – 2014 reporter forwarded email to Robb Morgan that had been sent to GRACE
• May 10, 2023 – Vineyard USA initiated limited-scope investigation with Guidepost Solutions into the lack of response and follow-up by Vineyard USA.
• July 6, 2023 – Vineyard USA received the final report from Guidepost Solutions.

Yes. Vineyard USA would like to state clearly that leadership conduct demonstrated by Michael and Brenda, both as pastors and while serving in roles at Vineyard USA, was abusive. Every instance of abuse was evil and wrong. 

Vineyard USA condemns all abuse of authority or trust. Such abuses are especially egregious in pastoral contexts. Scripture makes it clear that leaders in the Church are held to a higher standard. Each instance of the Gatlins’ abuses was a complete misrepresentation of the message of Jesus and his care and honor of the vulnerable.

No. The Duluth Vineyard’s governing structure (Church Council or Special Committee) retained Michael Gatlin as Senior Pastor without input from Vineyard USA. Counsel provided by Vineyard USA was in light of this local decision. 

On January 29, 2023, Michael Gatlin issued the following statement to the Duluth Vineyard leadership, which was approved by the Special Committee, and in part read, “As this situation unfolds, I want to assure you that I’m not leading in this process, and at the same time, I am still serving as the senior pastor of the Duluth Vineyard Church. I am incredibly thankful that I do not bear this responsibility alone. The staff, leadership, and ministry teams who serve alongside us are sensitive and capable leaders we can trust.”

Despite allegations against Jackson Gatlin, the Duluth Vineyard’s governing structure (Church Council or Special Committee) retained Michael Gatlin as Senior Pastor. With that constraint in place, Vineyard USA offered Duluth Vineyard an authority matrix that would allow for principled decision-making under those conditions. The authority matrix clarified who had point authority to make decisions related to the investigation, namely the Duluth Vineyard Special Committee.

Vineyard USA offered counsel to support the church’s leadership in navigating the situation but did not advise retaining Michael Gatlin. Vineyard USA actually advised Michael to take a leave of absence, which he declined. He publicly stated he was not leading the process, but remained Senior Pastor. Vineyard USA provided an authority matrix to guide decision-making, acknowledging that Michael Gatlin, as acting Senior Pastor, had “veto authority.” To mitigate this, Vineyard USA suggested Michael offer input on key decisions to avoid any temptation to exercise a veto. In retrospect, we regret this. With the benefit of hindsight and a fuller understanding of the abusive leadership dynamics at play, we acknowledge that we should have advised an immediate leave of absence for Michael Gatlin, even though we lacked the authority to enforce it.

Yes, they were both given modest severance packages. Having reviewed all of the information available then, as well as, all that we now know including the Gatlins’ lack of participation in future investigative processes – the rationale for severance is insufficient, and we believe this was a mistake. The trustees offered the severance package, believing at the time that it would help expedite the separation, secure the Gatlins’ cooperation, and mitigate potential legal risks associated with wrongful termination. We should not have provided severance pay to the Gatlins, and we regret doing so. While, at the time, we thought we had valid reasons for providing severance, we now believe doing so was unwise and unwarranted.

Vineyard USA is currently rewriting a Severance Policy to include in our Employee Handbook, which will bring greater organizational clarity.

Vineyard USA did support the Church Discipline plan, though it appears that Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA disagree on this point. 

From March to May 2023, Vineyard USA encouraged the Duluth Vineyard to establish a formal Church Discipline and Restoration plan for the Gatlins. In May 2023, as part of our in-person meeting with Duluth Vineyard, Vineyard USA and Duluth Vineyard together reviewed and further developed drafts of a Church Discipline and Restoration plan. All parties, including the Gatlins, agreed that Vineyard USA would administer the plan in coordination with the local church, in support of the desired outcome of necessary accountability for the Gatlins. Following the release of the GRACE report in November 2023, Duluth Vineyard adjusted the Church Discipline plan without input from or coordination with Vineyard USA. Duluth Vineyard released that plan on December 14, 2023. Vineyard USA affirmed the right of the Duluth Vineyard to do this while also acknowledging that the existing polity of Vineyard USA presented a challenge to its application. From December 14, 2023 to March 2024, Vineyard USA worked with the Mile High Vineyard and ultimately directed the Gatlins to stop attending Vineyard churches.

The Gatlins began attending the Mile High Vineyard in Arvada without prior consultation with or approval from Vineyard USA, the Duluth Vineyard, or the Mile High Vineyard in Arvada.

The Gatlin family moved to Arvada, Colorado, and began attending the Mile High Vineyard in Arvada without prior approval from any relevant Vineyard entities. In May 2023, Vineyard USA, the Duluth Vineyard, and the Mile High Vineyard in Arvada agreed to a church discipline process aimed at accountability, restriction of ministry, due process, transparency, and repair. Vineyard USA initially believed these goals were best achieved if the Gatlins remained connected to the Vineyard movement. However, due to the intense pressure and pain of the situation, Vineyard USA ultimately decided in March 2024 to require the Gatlins to cease attending any Vineyard church.

Through extensive interview processes for both National Director and Super Regional Leader, the Gatlins consistently received positive recommendations from staff and leaders at the Duluth Vineyard and translocal leaders from across the Vineyard. 

In 2021, Michael Gatlin was nominated for consideration by Vineyard pastors for the National Director position. This process included a “360 Review” and this was an open invitation for leaders in the broader movement and particularly the Duluth Vineyard to express any concerns about Michael’s leadership. Michael received positive recommendations from 14 individuals including four senior leaders of the Duluth Vineyard. During the implementation of the ReOrg, the former Executive Team required that three former ET members be brought forward to the new Board of Trustees. Phil Strout, Michael Gatlin, and Adam Russell were selected because of their unique national leadership experience. 

In 2021, Brenda Gatlin went through an extensive interview process as part of the ReOrg implementation. This process included initial applications, name-redacted writing projects, Hiring Team interviews, and Hiring Team recommendations. Having served previously as an Area Leader (6 yrs), and Regional Leader (8+ yrs), Brenda Gatlin also received positive recommendations from a broad sampling of local and translocal leaders. 

Similarly, the 2014 Formal Concerns, while not investigated by Vineyard USA, were reviewed by the Duluth Vineyard. The Church Council and Senior Leadership Team of the Duluth Vineyard determined that the 2014 Formal Concerns were unsubstantiated.

As far as we are aware, the Gatlins live in Denver, CO. They are not attending a Vineyard church.

It has been made clear that the required first step of the church discipline process would be to participate in the investigative process and respond to the allegations of misconduct, cover-up, and failure to report allegations.

Duluth Vineyard, Vineyard USA, and Mile High Vineyard each acted in accordance with the authority granted them as employers and local churches.

 While Vineyard USA cannot speak to all the decisions made by all parties, it is our understanding that:

• The Gatlins resigned from Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA respectively (although Brenda Gatlin was a shared employee based on the compensation agreement between the Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA). Both organizations were preparing to terminate their respective employment within days of their resignations, for (among other things) their unwillingness to cooperate with the investigative processes as directed by their respective employers. 
• The Duluth Vineyard gave various employment-related directives to Michael Gatlin and suspended Michael Gatlin. Additionally, Duluth Vineyard terminated the shared employment relationship with Vineyard USA. Duluth Vineyard also removed Brenda Gatlin from her role as Vice President of the Duluth Vineyard. Following their resignation, the Duluth Vineyard revoked the ordination credentials of Michael and Brenda Gatlin and placed them under Church Discipline. 
• On February 1, 2023, Vineyard USA suspended Michael Gatlin from his respective Trustee roles. Following their respective resignations, Vineyard USA worked to administer the Church Discipline plan imposed by the Duluth Vineyard. Finally, Vineyard USA directed Michael Gatlin to stop attending Vineyard churches. 
• Vineyard USA gave various employment-related directives to Brenda Gatlin; placed Gatlin on an initial 30-day leave of absence on February 1, 2023, and then indefinitely suspended her on February 10, 2023. Following her resignation, Vineyard USA worked to administer the Church Discipline plan imposed by the Duluth Vineyard. Finally, Vineyard USA directed Brenda Gatlin to stop attending Vineyard churches. 
• The Mile High Vineyard cooperated with Vineyard USA to administer the Church Discipline plan imposed by the Duluth Vineyard. Ultimately, Vineyard USA directed the Gatlins to stop attending Vineyard churches.

When dealing with allegations of misconduct, we can only work with the information available to us. Vineyard USA faced significant challenges in responding to misconduct allegations due to the sheer volume and rapid influx of information from numerous sources, including victims, staff, church leaders, and investigators. Vineyard USA worked to prefer the needs of victims, as well as to prefer the desires of the Duluth Vineyard, in our public sharing of information. This has made our responses seem slow to some people.

The constantly evolving information, coupled with a communication blackout requested by Duluth Vineyard, has hindered our ability to process and respond expediently in every moment. Despite these obstacles, we have attempted to work with all parties and adjust our approach as new information surfaced. We also acknowledge that we may still be unaware of consequential information and that communication from all parties has been slow and sometimes incomplete. For our part, we are actively working to improve these processes for future incidents. We have provided public updates on our webpage since February 10, 2023.

Though we’re sure there is always more that could have been done, Vineyard USA has provided hundreds of hours of support to the Duluth Vineyard along with practical and financial assistance.

Vineyard USA learned of sexual misconduct allegations against Jackson Gatlin in December 2022. Jackson’s crimes were committed between 2007-2012 while he was a youth leader at the Duluth Vineyard. We also became aware of leadership abuse allegations against Michael and Brenda Gatlin shortly thereafter in early 2023. Since then, Vineyard USA has provided various forms of support to the Duluth Vineyard, including contracting services for coaching and counseling, commissioning investigations, and administering a church discipline process that ultimately resulted in the Gatlins’ disfellowshipping from the Vineyard in March 2024. We have also dedicated hundreds of hours to direct and indirect support including multiple in-person visits to the Duluth Vineyard.

We have spent in excess of $200,000. 

Investigating misconduct and abuse allegations is costly. Expenses for independent investigations (Guidepost Solutions), coaching and counseling (The Leaders Journey), trauma-informed care for victims (Vitalization Wellness), an initial counseling intensive for the Gatlins, and hotline investigations have exceeded $200,000. Over 40 individuals were interviewed, leading to two published reports. Additionally, Duluth Vineyard’s leadership and staff received coaching and training, and current and former staff received trauma-informed counseling. Beyond the financial costs, Vineyard USA personnel have dedicated incalculable time and energy to this matter.

There are many factors that have impacted the relationship which include a lack of trust, incomplete information, and miscommunication between both parties. Vineyard USA is working to understand and take responsibility for its part in these breakdowns. Vineyard USA is committed to working to repair relationships. Most recently in March 2025 representatives of Vineyard USA and the Duluth Vineyard met in Duluth to work on this repair and any next steps.

Vineyard USA has no structural authority in the governance of a local church. Under our current governing structure, Vineyard USA is an association of locally-governed churches.

Vineyard USA is an association of locally governed churches that lacks direct authority over individual congregations. Our influence has depended on cooperation with local leadership, a system that often proved problematic, especially in matters of accountability and discipline. The 2023 Independent Institutional Assessment of Vineyard USA produced by Guidepost Solutions highlighted these weaknesses, specifically noting a reliance on relationships that broke down during crises. In the case of the Duluth Vineyard, Vineyard USA’s attempts to provide counsel and help to address the presenting situations were hampered by an incomplete understanding of the abusive leadership dynamics at the local church. This incomplete understanding, as well as the ongoing uncovering of new information, contributed to a perception of slow action and delayed public statements.

Vineyard USA has offered apologies for our mistakes in private and public throughout this process. As new information, offenses, and reports have become available, we have consistently worked to take responsibility for our failures and mistakes. On occasion, we have needed time to consider what responsibility Vineyard USA bears in relation to the whole picture of what happened, in order to ensure that our apologies are meaningful and helpful.

We acknowledge that some of the actions of Vineyard USA have caused further harm to victims who came forward. We are aware that this has happened both directly and indirectly, and we are deeply sorry for this. Whenever possible, we have apologized and sought forgiveness. We would never intend or desire to cause such harm, and we remain committed to following trauma-informed principles to prevent further harm.

Most recently, in our urgency to publish our January 2025 webpage update, we provided victims with a preview but did not allow sufficient time for them to review the content and offer feedback. This was a mistake, and we sincerely apologize. We have since apologized to those most affected, updated needed information, and noted these changes on our timeline. Additionally, our 24/7 reporting hotline remains open for anyone who wishes to report allegations of abuse or misconduct.

In all cases and for all parties, we must apply the Golden Rule – we must treat others as we would want to be treated – whether they be the reporting victim or the accused. 

Vineyard USA is committed to consistently addressing misconduct allegations. Since 2022, we have developed new reporting and review systems, including a confidential 24/7 hotline. We have also updated our work related to the recommendations from a Guidepost Solutions assessment. Allegations of misconduct must be undergirded by a commitment to treat all parties with respect, always applying the “golden rule” taught by Jesus in Matthew 7:12. For rightly treating victims, this means a trauma-informed approach emphasizing safety, support, and transparency. For rightly treating those accused, it means fair process, including the opportunity to be heard and present evidence. These processes are often slow and methodical, sometimes feeling insensitive to individual needs, but are necessary to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and provide healing and restoration where possible. It is also worth pointing out that thorough, third-party investigations to address such circumstances are complex, time-consuming, expensive, and rarely fully satisfy everyone involved.

Vineyard USA has implemented significant reforms since receiving the Guidepost Solutions Institutional Assessment in 2022, including:

• A 24/7 hotline, 
• Trauma-informed counseling referrals for victims, 
• Increased Area and Regional Leader oversight, training, and reporting, 
• Direct engagement with the governing bodies of local churches, 
• Full-time staff (SRLs) dedicated to local church support, 
• National endorsement of local ordination credentials, and 
• A National Leadership Handbook.

We believe all of these would have been beneficial to circumstances like those uncovered in Duluth had they been in place earlier. While we acknowledge that no system can eliminate abuse, we aim to provide better support for victims and increase leader accountability. 

Various suggestions have been offered by Duluth Vineyard and others. In principle, we agree with the suggestions offered and many of these have been implemented since the 2023 Guidepost Assessment. However, we may not implement each suggestion exactly as written. We understand the principled suggestions from Duluth Vineyard to include: addressing the past; providing moral leadership and guidance; implementing structural and cultural reforms; reporting and responding to abuse; and supporting local churches. These recommendations align with the principles driving the reforms noted above, as well as with further measures we have already taken in response to the recommendations of the Institutional Assessment completed by Guidepost Solutions in June 2023.

We are working to hear from any and all who have been impacted by institutional deficiencies and failure in Vineyard USA. We are committed to taking seriously the counsel of our independent reporting group, Guidepost Solutions. We will continue to make reforms so we can make a safer and more transparent Vineyard movement.

Vineyard USA remains committed to seeing the truth brought to light. We understand that lawsuits of this nature can be a part of the healing process. Vineyard USA is committed to participating in the legal process with complete truthfulness and transparency and will expect the same from any Vineyard staff or leaders, current and former, whose participation is requested. We will continue to provide as much information as possible to ensure transparency during the course of these proceedings.